The State of Ammonia Synthesis at the Turn of the Twentieth Century: The Arena for Discovery

Abstract

When Fritz Haber took up the problem of ammonia synthesis in 1903 there were several methods of obtaining fixed nitrogen, both naturally and through synthesis in chemical reactions. The main natural sources were Chile saltpeter (sodium nitrate from South America) and ammonium sulfate from gas works and coking (and still some guano). Although production was rising, both were limited stock supplies, not considered viable for increased future needs of the fertilizer, dye stuff or, explosives industries. Furthermore, the Chilean exports were, from the perspective of a country like Germany, precarious in that they could be cut off by a sea blockade